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At least 1,423 records · Page 79
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Monte Carlo simulations demonstrating physics of equivalency of gamma, electron-beam, and X-ray for radiation sterilization

We report the sterilization of medical devices using the gamma rays from the decay of cobalt-60 has accumulated decades of experience of the performance of the materials and devices that are irradiated. The use of radiation using electron beams and x-rays has much less experience and this leads to questions of equivalency between these three technologies. Computer simulations were conducted to model the relevant physical processes of the interactions of each of the three forms of radiation in order to compare the spectra of electron energies at energies below 500 keV. It is predominantly the electrons below this threshold that produce the sterilization dose. No difference in energy spectra was seen between the three types of initial radiation. It is concluded that there is no energy dependent difference between gamma, e-beam, and x-ray for radiation sterilization.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Measurement of Nuclear Dependence in Inclusive Antineutrino Scattering

One of the fundamental questions in physics is the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe, explored through charge-parity violation searches in neutrino oscillation experiments. Next-generation oscillation experiments like DUNE need to constrain the systematic uncertainties arising from our understanding of (anti)neutrino-nucleus scattering to within a few percent to achieve their physics goals. MINERvA, a dedicated (anti)neutrino-nucleus scattering experiment, plays a crucial role in constraining these uncertainties. This thesis presents MINERvA's first high-statistics direct measurement of nuclear dependence in charged-current inclusive antineutrino scattering on carbon, hydrocarbon, iron, and lead as a function of antimuon transverse momentum, $p_{\text{T}}$, and Bjorken~$x$. The analysis utilises interactions with a mean antineutrino energy of approximately~6~GeV, with reconstructed antimuons having a scattering angle of less than 17$^\circ$ relative to the antin eutrino beam and an antimuon energy of 2--20 GeV. The measured per-nucleon differential cross-sections are reported with a precision of 7--9\%, while the cross-section ratios of carbon, iron, and lead to hydrocarbon have uncertainties of 5\% or less. The cross-sections for iron and lead indicate strong suppression at low $p_{\text{T}}$ and Bjorken~$x$, and an enhancement at high $p_{\text{T}}$. These effects are observed to be more pronounced with the increasing size of the target nucleus and are not reproduced by the underlying simulation prediction. Comparisons to alternative models used in current (anti)neutrino interaction generators show some improvements in modelling over the base prediction model, yet they are still unable to fully reproduce the observed nuclear dependence in this analysis. Importantly, the analysis provides a direct test of nuclear effects in inclusive antineutrino scattering, with major contributions from resonant pion production, deep inelastic scattering, and the transition region between these channels, which will be significant in DUNE. This measurement also represents one of the largest antineutrino datasets in this energy regime analysed to date.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

SBND Detector Status and First Results

The Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) is one of three liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detectors positioned along the axis of the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab, and serves as the near detector in the Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Program. The detector just completed its second year of running, collecting over 6.5e20 POT, equivalent to an unprecedented sample of over 5 million neutrino interactions. Initial data has demonstrated superb performance of the detector’s subsystems, enabling precise tracking and calorimetric reconstruction of events. With this large statistical data set, SBND is performing multi-dimensional cross section measurements of inclusive and exclusive topologies and precise searches for beyond the Standard Model (BSM) processes. As the near detector in the SBN Program, it will enable the full potential of the joint sterile neutrino measurements program by precisely characterizing the unoscillated neutrino beam, constraining BNB flux and neutrino-argon cross-section systematic uncertainties. In this talk, the current status of the experiment, first results from SBND’s neutrino interaction program, as well as status and prospects for BSM and oscillation searches are discussed.

Paton, Josephine [Fermilab] (ORCID:000000032651489↗
DOE OSTI2023

The mapping & avoidance of high order cavity modes

In this paper a technique developed in 2016 is presented for mapping the multidimensional, multi-mode high order mode landscape of a beam driven super conducting RF cavity. The initial use case for this technique was intended to allow longitudinal gradient control of a beam driven super conducting cavity while simultaneously avoiding many dangerous high order modes and excessive component stresses. This paper will focus on the stability and component stress considerations of the 56MHz superconducting cavity, located in the 4 o’clock sector interaction region of the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The 56MHz cavity is intended to work in conjunction with the Stochastic Cooling system to improve the longitudinal confinement in the central 197MHz RF bucket and thus increase the integrated luminosity during heavy ion beam runs at RHIC.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS2007

Electric Propulsion Interactions Code (EPIC): Recent Enhancements and Goals for Future Capabilities

The Electric Propulsion Interactions Code (EPIC) is the leading interactive computer tool for assessing the effects of electric thruster plumes on spacecraft subsystems. EPIC, developed by SAIC under the sponsorship of the Space Environments and Effects (SEE) Program at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, has three primary modules. One is PlumeTool, which calculates plumes of electrostatic thrusters and Hall-effect thrusters by modeling the primary ion beam as well as elastic scattering and charge-exchange of beam ions with thruster-generated neutrals. ObjectToolkit is a 3-D object definition and spacecraft surface modeling tool developed for use with several SEE Program codes. The main EPIC interface integrates the thruster plume into the 3-D geometry of the spacecraft and calculates interactions and effects of the plume with the spacecraft. Effects modeled include erosion of surfaces due to sputtering, re-deposition of sputtered materials, surface heating, torque on the spacecraft, and changes in surface properties due to erosion and deposition. In support of Prometheus I (JIMO), a number of new capabilities and enhancements were made to existing EPIC models. Enhancements to EPIC include adding the ability to scale and view individual plume components, to import a neutral plume associated with a thruster (to model a grid erosion plume, for example), and to calculate the plume from new initial beam conditions. Unfortunately, changes in program direction have left a number of desired enhancements undone. Variable gridding over a surface and resputtering of deposited materials, including multiple bounces and sticking coefficients, would significantly enhance the erosion/deposition model. Other modifications such as improving the heating model and the PlumeTool neutral plume model, enabling time dependent surface interactions, and including EM1 and optical effects would enable EPIC to better serve the aerospace engineer and electric propulsion systems integrator. We review EPIC S overall capabilities and recent modifications, and discuss directions for future enhancements.

Gardner, Barbara M.↗
DOE OSTI2022

A reliable workflow for improving nanoscale X-ray fluorescence tomographic analysis on nanoparticle-treated HeLa cells

Abstract Scanning X-ray fluorescence (XRF) tomography provides powerful characterization capabilities in evaluating elemental distribution and differentiating their inter- and intra-cellular interactions in a three-dimensional (3D) space. Scanning XRF tomography encounters practical challenges from the sample itself, where the range of rotation angles is limited by geometric constraints, involving sample substrates or nearby features either blocking or converging into the field of view. This study aims to develop a reliable and efficient workflow that can (1) expand the experimental window for nanoscale tomographic analysis of local areas of interest within a laterally extended specimen, and (2) bridge 3D analysis at micrometer and nanoscales on the same specimen. We demonstrate the workflow using a specimen of HeLa cells exposed to iron oxide core and titanium dioxide shell (Fe3O4/TiO2) nanocomposites. The workflow utilizes iterative and multiscale XRF data collection with intermediate sample processing by focused ion beam (FIB) sample preparation between measurements at different length scales. Initial assessment combined with precise sample manipulation via FIB allows direct removal of sample regions that are obstacles to both incident X-ray beam and outgoing XRF signals, which considerably improves the subsequent nanoscale tomography analysis. This multiscale analysis workflow has advanced bio-nanotechnology studies by providing deep insights into the interaction between nanocomposites and single cells at a subcellular level as well as statistical assessments from measuring a population of cells.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗
NASA NTRS2003

Optical Tweezers Array and Nimble Tweezers Probe Generated by Spatial- Light Modulator

An optical tweezers is being developed at the NASA Glenn Research Center as a visiblelight interface between ubiquitous laser technologies and the interrogation, visualization, manufacture, control, and energization of nanostructures such as silicon carbide (SiC) nanotubes. The tweezers uses one or more focused laser beams to hold micrometer-sized particles called tools (sometimes called tips in atomic-force-microscope terminology). A strongly focused laser beam has an associated light-pressure gradient that is strong enough to pull small particles to the focus, in spite of the oppositely directed scattering force; "optical tweezers" is the common term for this effect. The objective is to use the tools to create carefully shaped secondary traps to hold and assemble nanostructures that may contain from tens to hundreds of atoms. The interaction between a tool and the nanostructures is to be monitored optically as is done with scanning probe microscopes. One of the initial efforts has been to create, shape, and control multiple tweezers beams. To this end, a programmable spatial-light modulator (SLM) has been used to modify the phase of a laser beam at up to 480 by 480 points. One program creates multiple, independently controllable tweezer beams whose shapes can be tailored by making the SLM an adaptive mirror in an interferometer (ref. 1). The beams leave the SLM at different angles, and an optical Fourier transform maps these beams to different positions in the focal plane of a microscope objective. The following figure shows two arrays of multiple beams created in this manner. The patterns displayed above the beam array control the intensity-to-phase transformation required in programming the SLM. Three of the seven beams displayed can be used as independently controllable beams.

Decker, Arthur J.↗
DOE OSTI2026

Inclusive Search for Anomalous Single-Photon Production in MicroBooNE

The MicroBooNE experiment is an 85-ton active volume liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) neutrino detector situated in the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beam. One of the main goals for MicroBooNE is to investigate the “low energy excess” (LEE) of electromagnetic events observed by the MiniBooNE experiment by leveraging the unique capabilities of the LArTPC technology to distinguish photons from electron electromagnetic showers. In this poster, we present an inclusive search for anomalous production of single-photon events from neutrino interactions in the MicroBooNE experiment, motivated by the MiniBooNE LEE. The analysis uses the Wire-Cell reconstruction framework to select a sample of inclusive single-photon final-state interactions and leverages simultaneous measurements of sidebands to constrain signal and background predictions and reduce uncertainties. We perform a blind analysis using a dataset collected from February 2016 to July 2018 from the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab. In the full signal region, we observe agreement between the data and the prediction, with a goodness-of-fit p-value of 0.11. We then isolate a sub-sample of these events containing no visible protons, and observe 93 $/pm$ 22(stat.) $\pm$ 35(syst.) data events above prediction, corresponding to just above 2$\sigma$ local significance, concentrated at shower energies below 600 MeV.

Yandel, Erin [Los Alamos] (ORCID:0000000277123709)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Cosmogenic activation of silicon

In the production of 3 H, 7 Be, and 22 Na by interactions of cosmic-ray particles with silicon can produce radioactive backgrounds in detectors used to search for rare events. Through controlled irradiation of silicon CCDs and wafers with a neutron beam that mimics the cosmic-ray neutron spectrum, followed by direct counting, we determined that the production rate from cosmic-ray neutrons at sea level is (112 ± 24) atoms/( kg day ) for 3 H, (8.1 ± 1.9) atoms/( kg day ) for 7 Be, and (43.0 ± 7.2) atoms/( kg day ) for 22 Na . Complementing these results with the current best estimates of activation cross sections for cosmic-ray particles other than neutrons, we obtain a total sea-level cosmic-ray production rate of (124 ± 25) atoms/(kg day) for 3 H, (9.4 ± 2.0) atoms/( kg day ) for 7 Be, and (49.6 ± 7.4) atoms/( kg day ) for 22 Na. These measurements will help constrain background estimates and determine the maximum time that silicon-based detectors can remain unshielded during detector fabrication before cosmogenic backgrounds impact the sensitivity of next-generation rare-event searches.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Neutron measurement from neutrino interactions in NOvA

The NuMI Off-Axis Appearance (NOvA) experiment is a long-baseline neutrino oscillation experiment based at Fermilab, consisting of two functionally identical liquid-scintillator detectors positioned slightly off-axis from the NuMI beam. It aims to probe CP violation in the lepton sector and determine the neutrino mass ordering by comparing the oscillation rates between the detectors. Given the energy dependence of oscillations, energy reconstruction is key--and a key limitation in the precision and accuracy of this kinematic variable is an understanding of primary neutron-related uncertainties since many may go undetected. While recent improvements have reduced discrepancies, NOvA's simulation still overpredicts neutron-linked activity by about 20\%, particularly for neutrons between 5–200 MeV. We present ongoing progress toward a measurement of neutron multiplicity in the NOvA Near Detector using spatially displaced and delayed energy deposits associated with neutron interactions, aiming to constrain neutron-related systematics and improve neutrino energy reconstruction in future oscillation analyses.

Kufatty, G. [Florida State U.]↗
DOE OSTI2026

Diagnostic x-ray source using electrons produced by a 100 J-class picosecond laser

Many laser-based high-energy-density science (HEDS) facilities have one or more short-pulse (sub- to few-picosecond) laser beams for diagnostics. For the past decade, we have been developing a novel x-ray probing capability using such picosecond lasers interacting with an underdense plasma to produce relativistic electrons. The ultimate goal of these experiments is to demonstrate a new type of x-ray backlighter using the short-pulse ARC laser at the National Ignition Facility (NIF). Before this diagnostic is fielded at the NIF, it is critical to demonstrate the viability and reproducibility of the x-ray source on comparable high-power short-pulse laser systems. We present experiments that were carried out with the OMEGA EP laser at the University of Rochester’s laboratory for laser energetics. In these experiments, high-energy electrons are produced through a combination of the self-modulation instability and direct laser acceleration in an underdense gas jet. These electrons generate directional x-rays with characteristic energies up to several tens of keV as they execute betatron motion in the ion channel, and the inverse Compton scattering process generates even harder x-rays, with characteristic photon energies of 60–240 keV. When implemented on the OMEGA EP laser(s), this x-ray source yields results that are comparable to those obtained recently on the short-pulse Titan laser at the Jupiter Laser Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, after accounting for differences in laser energy, peak intensity, focusing f/#, and plasma source. Applications of such an x-ray source for HEDS experiments are discussed.

backlighter↗
DOE OSTI2025

Proton reconstruction with the TOTEM Roman pot detectors for high- β * LHC data

The TOTEM Roman pot detectors are used to reconstruct the transverse momentum of scattered protons and to estimate the transverse location of the primary interaction. This paper presents new methods of track reconstruction, measurements of strip-level detection efficiencies, cross-checks of the LHC beam optics, and detector alignment techniques, along with their application in the selection of signal collision events. The track reconstruction is performed by exploiting hit cluster information through a novel method using a common polygonal area in the intercept-slope plane. The technique is applied in the relative alignment of detector layers with μm precision. A tag-and-probe method is used to extract strip-level detection efficiencies. The alignment of the Roman pot system is performed through time-dependent adjustments, resulting in a position accuracy of 3 μm in the horizontal and 60 μm in the vertical directions. The goal is to provide an optimal reconstruction tool for central exclusive physics analyses based on the high-β* data-taking period at $\sqrt({s})$ = 13 TeV in 2018.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2019

Laser and electron deflection from transverse asymmetries in laser-plasma accelerators

Here, we report on the deflection of laser pulses and accelerated electrons in a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) by the effects of laser pulse front tilt and transverse density gradients. Asymmetry in the plasma index of refraction leads to laser steering, which can be due to a density gradient or spatiotemporal coupling of the laser pulse. The transverse forces from the skewed plasma wave can also lead to electron deflection relative to the laser. Quantitative models are proposed for both the laser and electron steering, which are confirmed by particle-in-cell simulations. Experiments with the BELLA Petawatt Laser are presented which show controllable 0.1-1 mrad laser and electron beam deflection from laser pulse front tilt. This has potential applications for electron beam pointing control, which is of paramount importance for LPA applications.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Slow and Fast Light in Plasma Using Optical Wave Mixing

Slow and fast light, or large changes in the group velocity of light, have been observed in a range of optical media, but the fine optical control necessary to induce an observable effect has not been achieved in a plasma. Here, we describe how the ion-acoustic response in a fully ionized plasma can produce large and measurable changes in the group velocity of light. In this work, we show the first experimental demonstration of slow and fast light in a plasma, measuring group velocities between 0.12c and -0.34c.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Measurements of Non-Maxwellian Electron Distribution Functions and Their Effect on Laser Heating

Electron velocity distribution functions driven by inverse bremsstrahlung heating are measured to be non-Maxwellian using a novel angularly resolved Thomson-scattering instrument and the corresponding reduction of electrons at slow velocities results in a ~40% measured reduction in inverse bremsstrahlung absorption. The distribution functions are measured to be super-Gaussian in the bulk (v/v th < 3) and Maxwellian in the tail (v/v th > 3) when the laser heating rate dominates over the electron-electron thermalization rate. Furthermore, simulations with the particle code quartz show the shape of the tail is dictated by the uniformity of the laser heating.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Superradiance and Subradiance due to Quantum Interference of Entangled Free Electrons

When multiple quantum emitters radiate, their emission rate may be enhanced or suppressed due to collective interference in a process known as super- or subradiance. Such processes are well known to occur also in light emission from free electrons, known as coherent cathodoluminescence. Unlike atomic systems, free electrons have an unbounded energy spectrum, and, thus, all their emission mechanisms rely on electron recoil, in addition to the classical properties of the dielectric medium. To date, all experimental and theoretical studies of super- and subradiance from free electrons assumed only classical correlations between particles. However, dependence on quantum correlations, such as entanglement between free electrons, has not been studied. Recent advances in coherent shaping of free-electron wave functions motivate the investigation of such quantum regimes of super- and subradiance. In this Letter, we show how a pair of coincident path-entangled electrons can demonstrate either super- or subradiant light emission, depending on the two-particle wave function. By choosing different free-electron Bell states, the spectrum and emission pattern of the light can be reshaped, in a manner that cannot be accounted for by a classical mixed state. We show these results for light emission in any optical medium and discuss their generalization to many-body quantum states. Furthermore, our findings suggest that light emission can be sensitive to the explicit quantum state of the emitting matter wave and possibly serve as a nondestructive measurement scheme for measuring the quantum state of many-body systems.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Topology-imprinting in nonlinear metasurfaces

Flat optical components, or metasurfaces, have transformed optical imaging, data storage, information processing, and biomedical applications by providing unprecedented control over light-matter interactions. These nano-engineered structures enable compact, multidimensional manipulation of light’s amplitude, phase, polarization, and wavefront, producing scalar and vector beams with unique properties such as orbital angular momentum and knotted topologies. This flexibility has potential applications in optical communication and imaging, particularly in complex environments such as atmospheric turbulence and undersea scattering. However, designing metasurfaces for shorter wavelengths, such as visible and ultraviolet light, remains challenging due to fabrication limitations and material absorption. Here, we introduce an innovative concept called topology imprinting using judiciously designed all-dielectric nonlinear optical metasurfaces to replicate desired waveforms at fundamental and harmonic frequencies, opening promising avenues for advanced photonic applications.

42 ENGINEERING↗